EPA Publishes 2023 Mercury Inventory Report
Released December 21, 2023
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the 2023 Mercury Inventory Report on the supply, use, and trade of mercury in the U.S. This is the second inventory report published after finalizing the 2018 mercury inventory reporting rule, adding to the suite of completed mandates related to elemental mercury and mercury compounds per the 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The 2023 report is the first report that reflects the January 1, 2020, effective date of the 2016 TSCA amendment to prohibit the export of five mercury compounds. The data in the 2023 report will further assist the U.S. in its implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. High exposure to mercury can cause kidney damage, respiratory failure, and death. Other health effects include difficulty breathing, headaches, muscle weakness, memory loss, and mood swings. Additionally, mercury does not biodegrade and can build up in the environment.
The Inventory of Mercury Supply, Use, and Trade in the United States 2023 Report presents aggregated data from 2021 submitted on imported mercury, mercury manufactured in the U.S., imported mercury-added products, mercury-added products made in the U.S., and mercury used in manufacturing processes. The inventory report also provides a broad view of U.S. mercury stored, sold, and exported, as well as industry sectors and countries involved in the supply, use, and trade of mercury.
Highlights of the report include:
- Thirty-one mercury compounds listed as “inactive” under the Chemical Substance Inventory since publication of the 2020 report.
- An overall decline of approximately 13% in the amount of mercury used in the domestic manufacture, sale, and export of mercury-added products, indicative of the growing presence and use of effective alternatives.
- A decrease of approximately 20% in the amount of mercury used to manufacture products including switches, relays sensors, and valves, as well as an approximately 56% decrease in in the use of dental amalgam. The data submitted on switches and relays fills a previously challenging information gap within the U.S.
- Low totals of less than 0.1 metric tons for the amount of mercury in domestically manufactured and imported batteries, measuring devices, and other/miscellaneous products.
- Information relevant for U.S. implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a multilateral environmental agreement that seeks to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.
Background
In March 2017, EPA published the initial inventory report of mercury supply, use, and trade in the U.S.
On June 27, 2018, EPA published a final rule, which established reporting requirements that support triennial inventories and requires reporting from persons who manufacture (including import) mercury or mercury-added products, or otherwise intentionally use mercury in a manufacturing process. This means that the data in the report comes directly from the companies that are using, manufacturing, or importing mercury, providing EPA and the public with more reliable and complete information on the supply, use, and trade of mercury in the U.S.
The 2020 Mercury Inventory Report was the first inventory published after finalizing the mercury inventory reporting rule (the initial 2017 inventory was limited to only publicly available data). In addition, the 2020 report incorporated data from contextual reporting requirements, which resulted in more extensive information on the industries that purchased mercury-added products, countries of origin and destination for imports and exports, and the specific ways that mercury was used in certain manufacturing processes. The 2020 report was updated in December 2020 by EPA in order to account for a number of late submissions and information from additional potential reporters. The Agency did not re-issue the 2020 report; however, it has used the additional data submitted to inform the 2023 inventory report, as well as ongoing activities related to mercury.
In November 2021, EPA published a final rule to implement an order issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit on June 5, 2020, to take out the original exemption for persons who import pre-assembled products that contain a mercury-added component (e.g., a watch that contains a mercury-added battery).
Read the report: Inventory of Mercury Supply, Use, and Trade in the United States 2023 Report (pdf)